Hollow building block



P. H. BEVIER.

HOLLOW BUILDING BLOCK. APPLICATION FLVLED AUG.19. 1919f Patented June '13, 1922 2 SHE 'SSHEET 1.

unmade;

Z i 5 Attorney P. H. BEVIER. HOLLOW BUILDING BLOCK. APPLICATION FILED AUG.19, I919.

Patented June 13, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

a. FM: IQQEQE if I Qfl ' if "as :Pinmr H. IBEVIER, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

HOLLOW BUILDING BLOCK.

Application filed August 19, 1919. Serial No. 318,568.

the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, v

county of Kings, and State ofNew .York, have invented a certain new and useful Hollow Building Block, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

This invention is a hollow building block,

composed, preferably, of fire clay burned,

to the required hardness.

. constructor.

' The-building bldck of my invention is so Hollow tile are now used largely in building construction, but ordinarily such blocks are made especially tobe laid either horizontally or vertically so as .to produce a wall. So far as I am aware no prior block has been so constructed that it is adapted for use universally when laid so that its pasveither a hori-.'

sages or hollows may occup zontal position or avertica'l position. Accordingly', the salient feature of this invention is a hollowibu'ildin block adapted to be built into a wall by laying the block either on its side or standing it up on end to meet the requirements orwithin the choice of the fashioned that it secures a number of important functions in addition to its primary utility as a universal block, among which additional functions may be enumeratedthe. following: When laid into a wall in either horizontal or vertical positions, the joints are interrupted so that the mortar bonds will not carry or transmit moisture, thus insuring a dry surface on the interior of the wall; the building block embodies, in substance and effect, a double wall, one part of which may be injured by fire or otherwise whereas the remainder of the blocks will be unaffected and afford the required sta.

bility for carrying the load of the building; by so forming the blocksas to incorporate the idea of a double wall, the blocks are especially useful in building a party wall between adjacent buildings for the reason with a trowel and will not pass to any appreciable extent into the air spaces of the block, such mortar receiving surfaces afford- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 13, 1922s ing the required beds when the blocks are laid either horizontally or vertically, and

when said blocks are laid horizontally or upon their sides, the mortar keys within the holes of the blocks so that the vertical joints between the adjacent horizontal blocks secures a tight interlock between the blocks,

a result unattainable when the blocks are formedwith single webs; provision is made for reinforcing the wall when laying the blocks either on the sides .or standing them upon end; the block can be split or especially constructed". to serve as a lintel or a j amb for steel-sash, or as a lintel for wooden frames, or as a jamb' block, or broken on definite lines to render available for use a section of the block, which broken'section is referred to in the trade as a slim adapted to be laid into the wall between adjacent blocks-in order to piece out the wall in a manner similar to the use of half bricks; and the form of the block is such that a single die of the clay working machine is adapted for the formation of the block entire or of three quarter blocks adapted to serve as jambs or lintels.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, whereinv Figure 1 is a view of the block looking at one end portion thereof.

Figure 2 is a'perspective view illustrating one manner of assembling a plurality of blocks to. form a portion of a wall, said blocksbeing positioned vertically or on, end.

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing another mode of assembling the blocks to form a wall, certain of the-blocks being'laid upon the sides thereof or in horizontal positions, and the cornerblock being placed vertically or on end.

Figured is a perspective view of two blocks, one being a jamb block and the other a universal block, both being placed on end.

Figures 5 and (3 are perspective views of fragments of a block broken on definite lines, Figure 5 illustrating a slim, so called in the trade.

Figure 7 is a view' of a party wall composed of blocks laid horizontally and illustrating the manner of carrying the beams in adjacent buildings.

Figure 8 is a view of a party wall composed of blocks laid vertically or on end,

- by concrete in one of its cells and adapted showing how the beams of adjacent buildings are carried on the respective halves of the wall.

Figure 9 is a view illustrating the use of a. fragment or slim between adjacent blocks laid horizontally, one of said blocks being ajamb block.

Figur 10 illustrates the block adapted for supporting a jamb for a steel sash. Figure 11 is a view of a block reinforced for supporting the lintel of asteel sash.

Figure 12 is a view of the block adapted for service as a lintel for wooden frames.

A complete building block embodying'my invention in the preferred form thereof is illustrated more particularly in Figure 1. The block is composed of parallel sides A, B, each formed of webs a a o and b b b respectively, and a plurality of webs C D E F G, all the webs being of the same thickness, or approximately so, so that the complete block may be formed advantageously by an appropriate die of the clay working machine. The block may,'of course, be of agiy preferred dimensions, but it is necessary construct it with parallel sides andwith straight ends at right angles to the sides inorder that said 'block may be adapted for service universally,'i. e., by laying-it horizontally upon either side thereof or by standing the same vertically upon either end I thereof. i

Each side A 01 B is in effect a double wall of the block, each side being composed of pa-rallel webs a' a or b b, and said double wall has its webs connected or joined'a-t'in-- tervals by the short crosswebs, the latter for the double wall A being indicatedat 2t whereas the cross webs for the double wall B are shown at b joining the webs b b of said double wall B. Said double wall A or "B of the block is of cellular formation, the

openings or cells cor dbeing' relatively small in crosssection and running lengthwise of the block. Any des1red-numberwof cross webs may be used for joining the parallel double walls A B and producing a block "of f tutes. one end wall of. the block, whereas at the other end the block is so fashioned that the webs F G G conjointly with the webs a I) produce a channel or groove in said end wall of the block, said channel or groove 7 running lengthwise of the block and being open on one end surfac and at the respectit e end portions of said block.

It is preferred to employ clay material in themanufactu 'e of the block, the same being worked in the mannerusual in the art and run out in a continuous plastic mass from the die of the clay machine, and while in ,such plastic state the-clay mass is cut trans versely.into blocks of appropriate length, and finally the plastic blocks are burned to the required hardness. The die acts primarily to fashion the clay and produce the walls and webs uniform in thickness, whereas the cutting operations displaces the soft clay to a limited extent so that when burned the block is provided with fins or rough edges (more or less) around the open ends of the cells as shown inFig. 1, which rough edges preclude to a substantial extent the soft mortar from falling into the cells 0 (Z 6 when the blocks are bonded in the wall. The presence of-thecellslinthe block imparts to the block the desirable qualities of lightness in construction in a building unit of relatively large dimensions, reducing the weight so it can be conveniently handled, and, furthermore, the cells allow the free flow of heat within the block during the burning operation, the relatively thin walls and webs and the uniformity of the thickness thereof insuring the thorough and uniform'burning of the clay-material, as is necessary in a build-: ing block of the character under considera tion. a

It is preferred, in the clay working operation, to produce ribs at 9 upon the exterior surfaces of the block, along the side walls thereof, and if desired, the surfaces of said block may be finished or.treated in any 100 desired vmannerfor imparting a suitable finish in order that'the bonding material,-

or the plaster coat, or the stucco material may desirably adhere -to the surfaces of the block. These walls 9 may be omitted and the block left smooth with -no stucco finish. The webs Grand F upon one side of the block are relatively positioned to produce a channel 7, preferably dove tailed in cross section, said channel being useful as a re- 110 ceptacle for a mortar filling indicated at H in Figs. 10 and 11, said mortar filling actin as a bond for retaining a jamb member for a metal sash when the block' occupies the. position in the-wall shown in Fig. 10, or said mortar filling H in Fig. 11 acts as a bond for a lintel I of a metal sash in the position of the block shown in said Fig. 11. y The channel f in the block serves other functions, such as a receptacle for a wooden block or strip adapted to be fikedly securedin position by a wedging operation, to which wooden block or strip inay be nailed an ordinary wooden trim of a desired construction.

The building block of Fig. 1 may be laid vertically or stood up on end, as in Fig. 2, or said block may. be laid horizontally, or uponthe sidcs thereof. as in' Fig. 3, which capability of the block renders it suitable j for universal use to meetthe requirements of building codes or the demands of the con-- structor. When installed vertically as in Fig. 2, mortar is applied to the vertical face.

of each block along the channeled side thereof, the continuity of the mortar layer being interrupted by the channel 7" and the remainder of the channeled. surface of the" block affording the required wide areas forthe application of the proper quantity of" mortar. After spreading the mortar 'upon the channeled surface ofthe'block, the latter is shoved into position so as to abut against the next block in ,the course of blocks, but

it will be noted that the vertical mortar bond, indicated at J in'Fi g. 2 does n 'ot'e tend continuously, from front to rear,"with respect to the wall, for the reason that the channel f interrupts the continuity ofthe bond, whereby the channel acts as a dam to the seepage of the moisture through the wall and thus attains a desired result, 1. e., a wall the inner surface of which remains in a dry condition in hard rain storms or in aprolonged spell of Wet Weather. The blocks in one course are laid to break joints with the blocks in the adjacent courses, see Fig. 2,

and the double hollow side walls A B of all,

the blocks are in vertical alinement to insure strength in the wall for carrying theload, although if desired the blocks may be laid so that the cross webs C D E F may be positioned out of alinement vertically or the blocks so formed that when laid as tobring the cross. webs in alinement vertically.

As heretofore indicated, the blocks may be.

laid horizontally, or upon their sides, as in' Fig. 3, in which case the blocks are bonded together by mortar applied to the vertical faces to produce the vertical joints Jfand mortar is applied also to the horizontal channeled faces of the blocks to produce horizontal mortar joints, but in eachinstance the continuity of the mortar bond is. interrupted by the channel f in one face of each block, so that in all instances the channel serves the function of a dam in precluding the seepage of moisture through the wall.

,.As shown inFig. 3, the corner blocks of the wall are positioned vertically, or on end,

whereas the course blocks are laid horizon tally, upon the sides thereof.

In the production .ofthe blocks by the die of the clay machine,-said die may run the material to produce" blocks of the completeform shown in Fig. 1, but it may and does become necessary to produce blocks with an offset, such blocks beingindicated at L and the offset thereof at Z, in Figs. 2 and 4. The block with the offset Z is particularly useful as a jamb block for windows, and the production of such a block is attainable by' the same die, a section of which is closed to preclude the run of the clay material through said closed die section,

the remainder of the die being left openso that the clay material will emerge therefrom in the form required to produce the offset amb block having the required double walls and the cross webs as described. 1

The blockv of my invention is of such formation that it can be broken orsevered on definite lines asshown in Figs. 5 and 6 to produce tw'o sectionscapable of use-in the erection of the wall to meet certain requirements. 'As .will be understood the block of Fig. 1 can bebroken through the double walls A=B"and on a line intermediate the webs D E so as 'to result in a slimor narrow slab M shown in'F i .'5 and a wider block section indicated at in F i 6. The slim or narrow slab fragment is adapted to be interposed between two complete blocks as shown in Fig. 9, and to be bonded. thereto as at m, the continuity of the bonds being interrupted by'the moisture dam chanm1 7 in the facesfof the blocks adjacent the narrow slab fragment M. course, the fragmentary block N, as well as the slab M may be utilized as and whenzrequired in the erectio'n of the'wall.

Theblocks of my invention are'particularly useful in the construction of; party walls" between adjoining buildings, for the reasonIthat the double wallsA'B of the superposed blocks are in alinement vertically so as to afford the required; capacity for carrying the loads imposed by the beams ofthe adjacent buildings, and the described utility of said blocks applies equally to party walls the blocks of which are laid horizontally as in F igure' 7 or to party walls. the blocks whereof are positioned vertically as 'Shown in Figure 8.

'The .wall of Figure 7 is composedof courses of blocks each laid or; the sides. thereofand bonded together at 0, the mor-' tar'being interrupted by the channels 1 in the horizontal faces of said blocks. be noted that the webs a a 6b of theside walls A B of one block are in alinement vertically with the corresponding webs of the blocks above and below thesame, thus producing in effect a double weight carrying wall in the .tiers of blocks. The beams O of It will one building rest upon the double wall A,

whereas the beams O of the adjoining building are carried by the double wall Bin the courses of superposed blocks, and thus the double walled blocks of my invention answer the requirements of building codes in certain localities. The same is true of a wall the blocks of. which are laid vertically or on end as shown in Fig. 8, the courses of blocks being bonded as at 0. It is preferred to use a plate O a-t'the top of the wall in Fig. 8, and upon this plate rests the end portions of the beams O 0 so that one beam is carried by the double wall A of the super: posed blocks Whereas the other beam is sup- Letters Patent is ported by the double. wall B of said blocks.

In this connection it is desired to call attention to the fact that a wall composed ofhollow blocksmade inaccordance with my invention possesses certain characteristics .not inherent in other hollow blocks -e. g.

the blocks themselves are composed of two hollow members A B united by the. cross webs and said blocks are assembled for the hollow members A13 to aline vertically, as'

- a result of which the wall composedlof hollow blocks possesses the desired insulation in position. This is true particularly of thesurfaces afforded by the sides of the block, one of which surfaces contains the channel f, but in case the blocks are laid vertically, then the mortar'is spread on the end faces of'the double walls or shells A-B, the fine or rough edges of which preclude to a substantial extent the flow of the" soft mortar into the cells 0,-(Z, the small area of which isa further deterrent to the passage of the 'mortar. The .double wallsor shells A B aflord. relatively wide surfaces for spreading the mortar when the blocks are laid on end. When the blocks are laid on the sides theresist of single webs.

The blocks when laid horizontally or vertically are so'related that the cellsare in alinement, and provision is thusmade for the reception of cement as at P and steel rods Q (see Figs. 11 and 12) to act as a reinforcement in imparting the required'stability to the 'wall structure.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by 1. A hollow building unit comprising cel lular side members, cross, webs unitary wlth the side members, and other. transversewebs at one end of the block and joined to the'respective cellular membersand to one of said cross webs by a plurality of webs, the length of each transverse web exceeding the cross sectional thickness of .one individual cellular side member and said transverse Webs producing on the end face of the block a plurality of mortar beds of cellular formation theayidth of which exceeds thecross sec tional thickness of the cellular side members.

2. A hollow building unit comprising a plurality of cellular side members, a plurality of cross webs unitary with said cellular side members,- and other transverse webs positioned at one end of the unit and in. alined .relation to each other crosswise of. said unit, each. transverse web exceeding in width the thickness of one cellular side member and f each transverseweb being joined by other short webs to one of the cellular side members and to one of the cross webs, said transverse webs producing at one end of the unit a plurality of mortar beds of cellular formationthe width of which exceeds the thickness 1 of 'the'cellular members and said transversewebs being relatively spaced to produce a channel in the end face of said unit.

3. A hollow building unit comprisinga plurality of cellular side members in parallel relation, a plurality of cross webs unitary with the cellular \side members, and other transverse webs positioned at one end of said unit and joined by short webs to the respective cellular members and to one of the cross webs'so as to-produce mortar beds of cellular formation on one end ofsaid unit, the width of'the'mortar beds exceeding the thickness of the cellular side members and said mortar "beds being spaced relatively to each other to produce a dovetailed channel in the end face D of the unit. of, the mortar from the. vertical joints J 4. A building unit embodying aplurality of. cellular side members the edges of the .cells of which are roughened to reduce the dimensions of said cells. and excludethe "entry of mortar thereinto, a plurality of cross webs unitary with the side. members, and

transverse webs on one end of the unit, said transverse members .being joined by short webs with the cellular side members and with one of the cross webs and producing mortar .beds of cellular formation, the width of each mortar bed exceeding the thickness of the being lessthan the cross sectional dimensions of the-cells formed by the side members and the cross webs.

as my invention, I have hereto signed m name at the city of New York this 18th day of August, 1919.

' PHILIP H. BEVIER.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing 

